Congressman
Brian Higgins, NY-26, a member of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, has
introduced legislation to provide grants to upgrade wastewater treatment plants
in the Great Lakes basin.

"The
resurgence of the inner and outer harbors along Lake Erie illustrates the
important relationship between the health of the Great Lakes and our community's
economic future," Higgins said. "This legislation will provide the Great Lakes
region with much needed resources necessary to preserve the health and vitality
of our national treasure, the Great Lakes."

Higgins
announced the new bill standing on the shores of Lake Erie with Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper
and Citizens Campaign for
the Environment. He called both "champions of Great Lakes protection
and restoration."

"Our
water defined this region's history, and how we protect this public trust resource
will define our future," said Jill Jedlicka, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper
executive director. "Congressman Higgins understands that strategic
investment and partnerships dedicated to restoring our region's water resources
will result in tremendous economic return and revitalization for the benefit of
the entire community. We thank him for his local commitment to water as well as
his leadership in Washington for pursuing much-needed legislation."

"Lake
Erie faces a greener future, unless we take action. Not the 'green' we
associate with Earth Day, but the pea soup green we associate with toxic algal
blooms," said Brian Smith, program and communications director for Citizens
Campaign for the Environment. "Citizens Campaign for the Environment commends
Congressman Higgins for championing this important legislation that will help
to address the nutrients that are plaguing our Great Lakes."

H.R.
600, the Great Lakes Nutrient Removal Assistance Act, would authorize the
Environmental Protection Agency to identify and provide $500 million in grant
funding to upgrade wastewater treatment plants in the Great Lakes basin with
nutrient removal technology. Studies have shown that nutrients, like
phosphorous and nitrogen, are the cause of harmful algal blooms in the Great
Lakes.

The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement,
which formally codifies the U.S. and Canada's agreement to restore and protect
the Great Lakes and was most recently updated in September, identifies
inadequate wastewater treatment plants as a weak link in protecting the
biological integrity of the Great Lakes.

The
Buffalo River is also identified in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement as
one of 26 "Areas of Concern" in need of remedial action. Higgins recently announced
progress on phase two of Buffalo River cleanup efforts with the release of $22
million in federal funding, which will be matched through a partnership
agreement between the Honeywell Corp. and Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, for a
combined $44 million project.

According
to the EPA, more than 30 million people live in the Great Lakes basin. The
Great Lakes contain 95 percent of America's fresh water and supplies drinking
water to more than 30 million people in North America. The Brookings Institute
found that Buffalo would see economic gains between $600 million to $1.1
billion if the Great Lakes are restored.